The ceramics in this exhibition, beginning on Monday 14th September 2020, are moving towards the abstract, when compared to those in the last exhibition. Having said that the art historian, Herbert Reed, stated over 80 years ago that “pottery is plastic art in its most abstract form”. Therefore maybe the whole premise of the title is not valid. Be that as it may, the title is meant to convey that the work here is moving away from the function form and to have a more abstract painterly approach to decoration.
The exhibition will proceed in the same manner as the previous one. That is, with ten pots being added to the “Recent Acquisitions” section of the Gallery website https://www.studio-pots.com/recent-acquisitions/ from 11 am (BST) on consecutive Mondays as follows:-
14 September – Alan Wallwork
21 September – Robin Welch + Marianne de Trey + Julian King Salter
28 September – John Maltby
5 October – A Miscellaneous selection
At 11 am (BST) on each Monday the ceramics, with their exhibition code, will appear simultaneously with an image, description, dimensions, and price on the Recent Acquisitions page.
From that point sales and enquiries will be dealt with on a first come, first served basis. You will need to use the contact page to buy or enquire. I have prepared a series of larger images of each item that can be sent to you, if necessary. All prices quoted exclude postage/shipping. Options of getting pots to you can be discussed. It will also be possible for you to view/collect from us here in S. E. London.
Work by a variety of ceramicists will be included over the weeks but it will feature the following two artists more than any others.
Alan Wallwork
Alan is the first ceramicist to be featured in the online exhibition. Something that seems apt, as the Harlequin Gallery held 7 solo exhibitions of his work towards the end of his career. A career that began to prosper when he moved to Greenwich in 1960 and to many, reached its peak with the work produced when exhibiting at the Harlequin. By chance, less than half a mile from where his 1960s studio was situated. However, to my mind his earlier work was perhaps more ground breaking, as was his championing of such work within the Craftsmen Potters Association (CPA) back then. This at a time when there was much opposition to more abstract work from the pottery establishment.
John Maltby
John Maltby is the other significant name featured here and a man, who has been a delight to visit over recent years. Like Alan, John was introduced to ceramics during his time spent at Goldsmith’s College in this part of London. The work featured will focus on the 20 years or so leading up to 1996 when he was making painted vessel forms. Forms that owed much to Picasso and the Cornish naïve artist, Alfred Wallis, two artists that he admires greatly.